TreeGenerator is an inexpensive tree creation software that can export objects in 3DS format. Some free sample objects created with TreeGenerator are available for download.

Alexis Flamand reviews Vue 6 for 3DVF.com: "...an addictive experience where pleasure is present at each step of the creation process." (French)

Service Pack 1 for Max 9 is now available in 32 and 64 bit versions: "Service Pack 1 includes a number of fixes for Autodesk 3ds Max 9 across several functional areas, including Animation, Backburner, Batch Rendering, Biped, Editable Poly, Editable Mesh, Hair, Materials, Maxscript, mental ray, Reactor, Render to Texture, SDK and UV Unwrap."

Cebas has released the latest version of their renderer for 3DS Max. New features include Adaptive Quasi-Monte Carlo GI engine (AQMC), a "Details Detection" algorithm, incorporation of various materials from the FinalShaders collection, 64-bit support, etc. Visit Cebas.com for more.

(Updated March 27, 2007) More information at Adobe.com and StudioDaily.com.
Digit Magazine takes a look at Adobe's upcoming releases, including new versions of After Effects, Photoshop and Premiere Pro. The new version of Photoshop provides some interesting surprises such as 3D object import capabilities and the ability to work with video files.

Neil Blevins has added a new script to his collection, uVPlacer, which lets you modify the positions of selected UVs using a handy dialog box. As always, the scripts are available from Neilblevins.com.

Jason Walsh reviews Painter X for Digit Magazine: "... RealBristle’s value to professionals cannot be overstated when used in conjunction with a pressure-sensitive graphics tablet."

The latest version of Redway3D's pre-visualization tool for 3DS Max / VIZ has been released. Find out more at Redway3D.com.

NPower Software's new translator plugin allows SolidWorks users to import their models directly into 3DS Max and Autodesk Viz for animation and rendering without intermediate formats, and without loss of precision. Visit NPowerSoftware.com for more.

Lumonix has released the latest version of its muscle deformation plugin for 3DS Max. New features include flesh simulation tools, tentacle and softbody dynamics. Sample videos are available at Lumonix.net (Skin FX pages->media section). Read on for more.   [ more... ]

A significant upgrade to the NURBS-based modeling software with more than five hundred new features and enhancements, including free-form deformation of all geometry types, history aware commands, new display pipeline that takes advantage of the latest graphic card technology, UI helpers such as temporary reference lines and points to help with modeling tasks, third party rendering support for Maxwell, Brazil and V-Ray, and much more. Visit Rhino3D.com.

Thomas Luft, researcher at the University of Konstanz, has developed a program that grows a virtual ivy in imported scenes. The current version seems to have problems with certain meshes but the software will likely improve with user feedback.

More impressive work coming out of Animation Mentor. Check it out!

Modo 203 features enhanced texturing tools, improved rendering speed and ASCII DXF format support aimed at architects. Visit Luxology.com for more.

Animwatch interviews Alexei Petrov on his most beautiful animated short titled "Cags", created with Max.

Bit-Tech.net has a great article on recent hard drive developments and what the latest terminology means. It also mentions that larger capacity flash memory will soon be integrated to desktop hard drives, bringing drastic changes in data read/write speeds: "Hybrid technology will eventually move across to desktop drives [and] we will all be able to enjoy lighting fast boot times and that ever-pursued snappiness on the desktop."

Madrid-based BigTimeWorks specializes in 3D character design and animation for TV spots, games and more. Check out their great demo reel!

Take a look at the trailer for the latest animated short by Enrique Gato (Tadeo Jones, Superlópez). Created with 3DS Max. 3DInfografica.com has posted an article on the making of the film. (Spanish)

Filter Forge is a plugin for Photoshop that allows users to create their own Photoshop filters using a visual node-based editor. All filters produced with Filter Forge are adjustable and editable, seamlessly tiled, resolution-independent, and support HDRI lighting. Also, filters can automatically generate diffuse, specular, bump, and normal maps. Visit FilterForge.com for more, a trial version is available for download.

Lego has announced that it is working with NetDevil to create a massively multiplayer online game. "As children around the world continue to spend more time online we are developing new and engaging ways for them to interact with our brand" said an executive from Lego. The idea for a Lego-based MMOG sounds excellent, but one can't help think the hours lost to kids who could be playing and interacting with each other in the real world under the sun. This is part of a trend of course, which is not related to Lego. Find out more at News.com and Lego.com.

Amber Visual is offering a new film-look After Effects plugin. Find out more at Digit Magazine.

The M3 Heliodisplay is a mid-air projector capable of producing a 30-inch diagonal (76cm) display area (4:3 aspect). More information at Digit Magazine, and a sample video is available from IO2technology.com.

The latest version of Pixologic's ZBrush is expected to be released on May 15. Features mentioned include: real-time shadows, real-time material capture and render, full 3D sculpting and texturing with alphas and textures, up to one billion polygons using HD geometry, real-time posing with ZBrush's Transpose functionality, perspective camera, etc. More information and a teaser video available from ZBrush Central.

Ted Boardman, speaker and author of many Max books, has introduced a new fundamental 3DS Max and VIZ video tutorial training series available as streaming video and soon to be released on DVD. The exercises are aimed at architects and background artists, but can be adapted to other disciplines. More information at TBMax.net.

Three new libraries for ParticleIllusion 3.0 released. Graphics Elements 1 contains "numbers and counters" and "data gizmos", Graphics Elements 2 contains "energy" emitters, "readouts and displays", and "texture" emitters to be used as backgrounds, and Extreme Graphics contains a wide variety of high-energy emitters. Visit Wondertouch.com for more.

TextureKing.com is a growing archive for free stock photo textures.

The latest MBM Module has been released. Find out more at Mentalboutmax.co.uk.

They call it "cool", you have been warned. Allegorithmic, co-developers of ImageSynth, have announced the release of MaPZone, a free texture creation tool that sports some interesting features. Read the details at Mapzoneeditor.com.

Autodesk have released 2 hot-fixes for 32-bit Max 9. Hot Fix 1 replaces the missing Shockwave Exporter, and Hot Fix 2 fixes the DX Material only using UV channel 1.